Welcome to GASD's Technology Department

August, 2023

Dear Parents and/or Guardians,

The Gettysburg Area School District seeks to provide students with a set of online information resources and communication tools. In order to meet these goals, students must be issued a GASD computer account. These accounts may be used to access network resources including:

• Access to GASD computers, printers, mobile devices such as laptops, iPads, Chromebooks, and other learning support devices
• Access to online course materials such as course textbooks, library databases, It’s Learning and Google Apps for Education

The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (COPPA) prohibits providing children access to online accounts with such sites without first obtaining “verifiable parental consent prior to any collection, use, and/or disclosure of personal information from children” and further defines children as being under 13 years of age. For more information regarding COPPA, please visit 
http://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/rules/rulemaking-regulatory-reform-proceedings/childrens-online-privacy-protection-rule.

This document is intended to provide you with notice as to the specific sites that may be accessed by your child and thereby who may be accessing your student’s information(This site will be updated monthly with new items highlighted in yellow). The list found below sets forth the individual sites, their intended use, the applicable website address and a link to each site’s Website Privacy Policy. You are strongly urged to visit each site and review the applicable privacy policies prior to signing this document. These policies provide you with notice as to what actual information will be collected by each entity, how it will be used, and other important information about your rights as a parent/guardian in terms of such student information.

In order for your child to obtain access to the online resources listed, as a parent or legal guardian, you must provide permission and consent to the use of your student’s information as stated in the applicable privacy policies and information practices referenced in those policies. The expectation for these sites is that no personal identifiable information will be provided, however if login information is required, only first name, last name, age verification, and the school-issued email address will be used. It is important for you to know that student use of these internet resources is supervised by faculty and staff, and filtered to restrict access to inappropriate content. In addition, student email accounts will only permit students to communicate with other students and teachers in order to submit homework assignments, or ask class related questions. In other words, the school-issued student email account only allows students to email to and from other District-issued email addresses.

If you have any questions or concerns or seek further information on Internet access, please contact your School’s Principal.

Web 2.0 Informed Consent Listing of Tools and Resources

24/7 Laptop/Chromebook Program

Gettysburg Area School District is pleased to offer Chromebooks/laptops through a 24/7 computing initiative. This initiative provides students and their families a valuable tool that will give them access to a variety of positive resources available in our technology-driven society. With this technology comes increased student responsibility and expectations.

The primary mission of the 24/7 Chromebook/Laptop Program is to transform teaching, learning, and assessment at Gettysburg Area School District. A new generation of students expects a learning environment that integrates today's digital tools, accommodates a mobile lifestyle, adapts to individual learning styles, and encourages collaboration and teamwork. The GASD School Board, along with the Staff and Administrators of Gettysburg Area School District, is pleased to support this educational opportunity for all students which will strive to meet these expectations and prepare students for their future.

Through the use of technology, the 24/7 Laptop Program will focus on improving student engagement, achievement, and acquisition of digital age skills. (from the National Educational Technology Standards) including:

• Creativity and innovation
• Communication and collaboration
• Research and information fluency
• Critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision making
• Technology operations and concepts
• Enhance teacher instruction and student learning in the following ways:
• Increase student achievement 
• Increase student engagement 
• Increase academic rigor
• Increase student attendance
• Increase student interest in school
• Increase personal responsibility
• Increase student accountability in the learning process
• Make an accessible learning tool available 24/7
• Improve teaching methods 
• Revise the current educational curriculum
• Differentiated instruction in the classroom using technology to facilitate the classroom structure and, when applicable, instruction
• To “level the playing field” allowing equal access to technology for all our student population
• Provide students, families, and the community with a variety of positive resources and programs in GASD.
• Build a bridge between the school and community by producing graduates who will be prepared to serve the community through lifelong learning.

Internet Safety

There are many sites on the Internet that can be potentially dangerous to minors. These sites are blocked with the GASD content filter while students are logged on to the GASD network. Content filters do not cover 100% of the dangerous sites out there, so we strongly recommend supervising your students while they use their devices at home. Students are in violation of GASD policy if they use a proxy to bypass GASD Content filters. For more information about Internet safety go to www.isafe.org

Chromebook/Laptop Handbook - 2023 - 2024

Gettysburg Area School District is pleased to offer Chromebooks to each student for use in school for the 2024-2025 school year. This initiative provides students with a valuable tool that will give them access to a variety of positive resources available in our technology-driven society. With this technology comes increased student responsibility and expectations.

The primary mission of the Chromebook Program is to transform teaching, learning, and assessment at Gettysburg Area School District. A new generation of students expects a learning environment that integrates today's digital tools, accommodates a mobile lifestyle, adapts to individual learning styles, and encourages collaboration and teamwork. The GASD School Board, along with the Staff and Administrators of Gettysburg Area School District, is pleased to support this educational opportunity for all students which will strive to meet these expectations and prepare students for their future.

Through the use of technology, the Chromebook Program will focus on improving student engagement, achievement, and acquisition of digital-age skills (from the National Educational Technology Standards) including:

• Creativity and innovation
• Communication and Collaboration
• Research and information fluency
• Critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making
• Technology operations and concepts
• Enhance teacher instruction and student learning in the following ways:
• Increase student achievement 
• Increase student engagement 
• Increase academic rigor
• Increase student attendance
• Increase student interest in school
• Increase personal responsibility
• Increase student accountability in the learning process
• Improve teaching methods 
• Revise the current educational curriculum
• Differentiated instruction in the classroom using technology to facilitate the classroom structure and, when applicable, instruction
• To“level the playing field” allowing equal access to technology for all our student population
• Provide students, families, and the community with a variety of positive resources and programs in GASD.
• Build a bridge between the school and community by producing graduates who will be prepared to serve the community through lifelong learning.